Opinion: Afwerki wants it both ways…

“I have no intention of interfering in this matter despite the disinformation campaign going on trying to disrupt the process of peace in Ethiopia” (…) “You talk about withdrawal or no withdrawal (of Eritrean forces), and we say this is nonsense. Why are we bothered if Eritrean troops were there or not there?” (…) “Everybody talking about human rights violations (by Eritrean forces), rape, looting, this is a fantasy in the minds of those who own this factory that I call a factory of fabricating misinformation” – President Isaias Afwerki (09.02.2022).

A President for Life without elections, political opposition or any sort of accountability. He is the man to talk about responsibility and disinformation. When he himself controls every word about himself and whatever that is reported in the State of Eritrea. Shabait will only write favourably about him and his reign. Even where there is no proof of positive vibes or reforms. However, that doesn’t matter… as long as President Isaias Afwerki is crowned King.

No one should be surprised that Afwerki is blaming others for his own gains. That is what he does and he has tried to settle old grudges by going to war. The PIA or the President of Eritrea have tried to end the nemesis and old enemies of Tigray to no avail. He has retaliated and he has done what he could to avenge the past. However, as part of the Tripartite Alliance to tear Tigray apart isn’t over.

That’s why he has talked in Kenya and in a separate interview on Eri-TV where he has called it the proxy war of the United States of America. Like the TPLF wasn’t attacking Asmara in self-defence, as the borders of the region was filled with armies prepared to invade in November 2020. We are just supposed to forget that and not know the initial preparation, as a part of the peace-agreement, which is kept secret. That is why for some of us… the agreement made between Abiy and Afwerki seems like a war-pact. When you see what happened after the 2018 “peace” agreement.

It isn’t hard to believe that Afwerki wants to distort and downplay the role his armies and allies played in Tigray. That’s what his doing in the retorts in Kenya and in the interview on Eri-TV. He wants to be righteous and be a reasonable man. Even when his totally wrong and knows the acts of his armies within Ethiopia. They are there on accord with the ruling regime and the sovereign allowed it.

Still, the Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) didn’t come in peace, and it wasn’t intended to be this way. It was a war that was to be fought in darkness and create shallow graves of the ones who defied Addis Ababa and Asmara. That was the gist of this, the manner of which Afwerki got to retaliate and revenge Mekelle for past transgressions. That’s why this is personal to him, and he got to loot the ones who fought against him.

President Afwerki is willing to lie about it all and disregard anyone else. That’s why his like this and speaks about in this manner. It is all to create an alternative perception and make it seems differently. However, the reports and the proof of their actions in Tigray is there. Anyone would be naïve to think otherwise. That the men and the people who participated, ordered and sanctioned the atrocities would say it openly. Afwerki wants a clean-slate and act like the EDF wasn’t part of it. Alas, make it seem like they only participated in it in self-defence, which isn’t true. The Tripartite Alliance prepared, planned and enforced this war. That’s why he wants the spot-light on the victims and blame for their demise. Peace.

Ethiopia: The UNOPS and World Bank funds will not go to the Tigray region… [if we have learned anything from previous history]

“Addis Ababa, July 12, 2022 (FBC) –Ethiopia has signed a third-party implementation agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for the implementation of the World Bank-financed recovery project in Tigray. According to the Ministry of Finance, the agreement was signed today by Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance and Werknesh Mekonen, representing the UNOPS. The project is part of the government’s national recovery program financed by the World Bank with the name Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict-Affected Communities in Ethiopia project” (Fana Broadcasting Compnay – ‘Ethiopia, UNOPS Sign Agreement For Implementation Of Recovery Project In Tigray’ 12.07.2022).

It is hard to believe that the World Bank and UNOPS wants to sign an agreement with the Federal Government based in Addis Ababa. It is like the World Bank and UNOPS haven’t followed the acts of Addis Ababa and the regime itself. This isn’t the first rodeo and they should have known better. These funds will most likely not get to the ones in need in Tigray region. Neither will there be a will to implement it.

The Prosperity Party, the former consolidated parties from the former party coalition Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which left out the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Who didn’t want to participate and be part of the new federal or national party. Therefore, the war in Tigray happened after long time of mistrust and after a local government election in September 2020. Which was just two months ahead of the start of the “Operation Law Enforcement” or prolonged warfare in Tigray. Parts of Tigray is still invaded and controlled by the Tripartite Alliance like the Western Tigray. While the Humanitarian Truce haven’t accordingly allowed humanitarian assistance to levels of need. That’s why 13 million people in the Northern Ethiopia is in a dire need of food security. Secondly, that is a man-made famine and created by the blockade, which has been a willed policy.

That’s why it’s striking that the World Bank and UNOPS signs off to this agreement. The Addis Ababa government have blocked the utilities, frozen banking and communications to the Tigray region. There was years and still no news of government funding to the regional government of Tigray. That will mean that there been no funds from Addis Ababa to Mekelle.

This was reported from 2018 to 2020 that the Regional Government of Tigray didn’t receive funds from the Federal Government. Secondly, the World Bank themselves financed a development project called: “Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP)”. It was reported that the FDRE got $66m USD to PSNP designated to Tigray in September 2020, but was blocked from the House of Federation (HoF). Therefore, with this knowledge… will the same happen again?

So, reading that the World Bank is funding another project and the RRRCAC today. It seems like a nightmare. These funds will not help Tigray… if so only parts of it. This is a life-line to the Addis Ababa government. They are using the conflict to replenish funds and the World Bank is willing to fund them. The state is in disarray… and there is so many regions that is bleeding. The Tigray region is war-torn and in a man-made famine.

The Federal Government have been punishing Tigray region continuously… just as this agreement was signed. There was reports of thousands of ethnic Tigrayans arrested for no other reason their ethnicity. That’s why I have hard time believing these funds will go to help or redevelop Tigray. The current leadership rather wants Tigray to burn or die. That’s their policy and how they worked over the last few years. Have a hard time that will change over night.

That will be lie. Just like all the meetings promising humanitarian assistance and opening of besieged region totally to humanitarian organizations. Something that is yet to happen, even when millions are possibly starving or lacking food security. Therefore, this news is tragic. That the World Bank and UNOPS are duped by the leaders of Addis Ababa. Peace.

Somalia: The Somali troops in Eritrea continues to haunt Mogadishu…

“Villa Somalia spokesperson Abdikarim Ali Kaar says a number of Somali troops in Eritrea are dead. The number was not given, but he did say that their parents are aware of the fatalities. “Some died naturally, and some perished while they were training.” Approximately 5,000 new recruits were sent secretly to Eritrea for military training by former president Farmaajo in 2019. Some of the troops were allegedly deployed into Tigray region to fight alongside Eritrean troops” (Arlaadi Media Network, 02.07.2022).

If you ever thought the truth would never be release. A new administration and a new President makes a huge difference in Somalia. The previous administration signed an agreement with Ethiopia and Eritrea. This alliance could be a reason for the deployment and training of Somali troops in Eritrea. It doesn’t make sense that they just perish and dies in an-mass on training-sites. That seems like a lie and some might have died of natural causes. This could easily happen, but not with thousands of men who was trained soldiers. No, that isn’t it and a cover-up.

We know by the reports of the time and the start of the conflict. There was deployment of Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali soldiers inside Eritrean territory. That was done in preparation of the “Law Enforcement Operation” which started in November 2020. Therefore, the belief that they just perished and didn’t return. While there was public outcry and people wanting news about their loved ones. Just shows the truth of what happened. Since soldiers returning in caskets would have been the righteous things to do. However, this was a secret mission and this is why it wasn’t a publicly known enterprise of the then Villa Somalia.

This is why other sources revealed it. Now, the new administration isn’t denying the existence and the deployment of forces to Eritrea. However, they are not reporting or verifying the further use of them within the Tigray region. Which to me seems like the reason for the movement of troops to Eritrea in the first place.

This is why these reports was reported about last year.

UN Expert Report:

“In addition to reports of the involvement of Eritrean troops in the Tigray conflict, the Special Rapporteur also received information and reports that Somali soldiers were moved from military training camps in Eritrea to the front line in Tigray, where they accompanied Eritrean troops as they crossed the Ethiopian border. It is also reported that Somali fighters were present around Aksum. The Government of Somalia denied the participation of Somali soldiers in the Tigray conflict” (Situation of human rights in Eritrea – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, 12.05.2021).

On the 17th January 2021 this was reported and I wrote about it then:

“With that in mind the Somali Guardian have today released a report that 2500 Somali trained soldiers who enlisted to a Qatari Military Service was flown to bases in Eritrea ahead of combat. These soldiers was destined and taken to military camps within Eritrea for the sole purpose of participating in the conflict in Tigray” (Minbane – ‘Ethiopia: Abiy’s Regional Conflict in Tigray’ 17.01.2021).

What I will say in the end… that is a mystery that the remains haven’t been returned to the mourning families. Neither has there any revelation of the agreement and direct arrangement between Mogadishu and Asmara. This is why the “natural death and perished” while training seems like another spin-and-another twist of the involvement of Somali troops in the conflict in Northern Ethiopia or the Tigray region. Time will tell if they release more information and be more honest about it. Now, the cat is out of the bag, but the whole deal is far from released to the public. Peace.

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s report concerning the Karrayyu Massacre (05.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Tesfa – Tigray-Eritrea Solidary Forum Statement demanding withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara regional forces from Tigray (17.07.2021)

Opinion: The SNLF calls Abiy out!

Yesterday, the Sidama National Liberation Front (SNLF) released a statement called: “The SNLF Condemns with The Strongest Possible Terms the Forced Deployment of the Sidama’s Forces By Abiy’s regime installed Sidama’s Prosperity Party (PP) Cadres”. This message is clear and not shocking. As it was reported that Special Forces from Sidama, Oromia and Amhara would all participate in the Tigray conflict. Today, it is also reported that the Somali Region or Ogaden Special Forces will join as well. Therefore, all regions are participating in going after one Regional Government and their Tigray Defence Force (TDF).

What is striking in this statement is for instance this:

“The Ethiopian government is also pushing with its incoherent approach in the aspect of its promises to uphold unilateral ceasefire it has declared few weeks ago. Instead of finding amicable solutions, the regime and its Eritrean ally with the Amhara’s regional government that is calling another regional allies to fight its war in Tigray; are actively engaged in ongoing military operation in Tigray, Oromia, Benshangul Gumuz and Kemant causing further bloodshed, severe material and human costs. This must be wholly denounced and immediately stopped. This is the time when the nations of political south were called to support the Amhara elites’ expansionist war on Tigray on July 11, 2021. Due to Abiy’s regime plotted Amhara elites call, the Sidama special force was summoned to an urgent meeting on the evening 12th of July 2021where the Sidama state’s Abiy’s regime installed cadre including the state’s President ‘Desta Ledamo’ and his accomlices have advised the Sidama forces to be ready for deployment to support Amhara elites’ war in Tigray under the pretext of ‘in defence of Ethiopia’. The Sidama’s special forces have out rightly rejected and advised they do not want to kill Tigray civilians and do not want to be unnecessarily sacrificed” (SNLF, 15.07.2021).

Here we see a clear message from the SNLF. It is saying things that the Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy doesn’t want out. He wants to be the grand leader and the one searching for peaceful. However, the ones that follows his tracks knows that his just another Warlord. That’s clear by this statement as well.

Especially, when you see the statement on the ceasefire and how its now reinforcing troops from all the regions. While only listening to his allies of Amhara to continue the war in Tigray.

The SNLF continues:

“Subsequently, most these Sidama special forces have disappeared into their own districts and remain in various discreet locations. Additionally, on the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th of July 2021, the Sidama’s Abiy’s desperate cadres called for the Sidama’s ordinary police personnel with some new and untrained recruits from various districts of the Sidama state to fill in their quota and advised them they will be deployed to the Afar not to Amhara. Although these also refused, the recruits were forced and given false promises in return for their services by stressing that upon their return they will be rewarded with unknown kind of prizes. Abiy’s regime-controlled state Media has announced in the evening of July 14, 2021 that the Sidama state has prepared 200 special forces to join the war on Tigray nation under the pretext of maintaining law and order” (SNLF, 15.07.2021).

Here we see what the Federal Government does to continue the conflict as well. They are just randomly recruiting and sending them to the battlefield. It wouldn’t be surprising if the state did the same in Oromia and Ogaden as well. To get a “quota” of new recruits quickly. As the Prosperity Party and Prime Minister needs new soldiers to be able to defeat the TDF. Which he haven’t been able too and now his sending in new blood without long training. Against guerrillas and soldiers who has fought for months. This is sending civilians and youths to their death in a battle, which isn’t theirs, but is all on Prime Minister Abiy.

This sort of message needs to go out far and wide. It shows what the Federal Government is doing and also what its objective is. What is tragic is what will happen to the new recruits and their possible demise. As they are caught up into a conflict, which not earn them anything. However, they will just become another casualty in the war of Abiy. Peace.

Ethiopia Media Authority: Advising to refrain from using terminologies that violate Ethiopia’s sovereign Territorial Integrity (16.07.2021)

Ethiopia Human Rights Commission (EHRC): Protect Civilians from Harassment, Arbitrary Detention and Attacks (15.07.2021)

A look into TPLF President Debretsion Gebremichael recent address

It’s been a long time since Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) President Debretsion Gebremichael have delivered any message, letter or been vocal. Now, that the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) is regaining territory and the Tripartite Alliance is now resurging new troops to combat the TDF. Therefore, what his saying in this message is important.

As there haven’t been much said or released from the leader of TPLF. That’s why we need to go into it and digest it. Since, it will show his side, character and also his stance ahead of this prolonged conflict in Northern Ethiopia. A conflict that has been on-going on the regular since early November 2020.

First he says:

“Dear Ethiopian People,

Serious atrocities have been committed against the Tigrayan people by Ethiopian Defence Force, Eritrean Defence Force, Amhara regional police and militias and by foreign forces. Furthermore, in order to exterminate the people of Tigray; bullets, starvation, horrifying sexual violence and a coordinated looting of property have all been employed for the past eight months” (Debretsion Gebremichael, July 2021).

All of this has been reported, as the massacres, rape and other atrocities has been verified. The Tripartite Alliance has been behind a lot of damage, destruction and weaponized everything in the region. The blockage of all goods, food and destruction of the agricultural sector has secured a man-made famine. Which results is still unknown, but the dire hunger and distress is hitting most of the region. Just a few days ago, the Prime Minister down-played this. While the TPLF leader re-issues it again. To show that is a continuing battle and a consequence of this civil war.

He continues:

“Amongst the many things that have happened for the past eight months, with a complete disregard to the constitution, is that the criminal forces have arrogantly seized Tigrayan territories through force. Despite calls for them to immediately withdraw to their origins, they are refusing, believing in their might, to relinquish their hold and have been in preparation for what would be a catastrophe. Still, we are again calling on them to leave the places they have forcefully occupied. Otherwise, as we have done the past 8 months, we will fight and reinstate our rights” (Debretsion Gebremichael, July 2021).

Here we are seeing the ironies of the conflict. That the Tripartite Alliance, the Federal Government and all of its soldiers have breached the Constitution by attacking the Tigray region. They have disregarded it. That is striking when the government of FDRE or legality of the Law Enforcement Operation was to restore “law and order”. While it has been revealed that the only mission was to destroy and weaken Tigray. As the will of the state is to consolidate power and control it by force. Instead of in co-operation and within the means of the constitution. Which the Federal Government always uses as a tool to oppress and silence its critics.

He continues to say:

“The people of Tigray have never labelled any people as enemy. The people of Tigray were never an enemy to the Amhara, they are not today, nor will they ever be an enemy in the future. In spite of this, in order for those in power to maintain their power they are leading the Amhara people into grave danger. The people should therefore resist, and say lives should not be lost for the greed of power” (Debretsion Gebremichael, July 2021).

In the times of tribulations and with horrific acts done against you. Still, the TPLF leader says these words. That shows character. In the middle of the times, when Tigrayan is ethnically profiled, arrested, detained, banned from working and being part of the army. When the state is issuing orders and taking way their lands and homes. The TPLF leader says these words. As the state has created a famine in their homes. Destroyed their towns, villages and factories. The time when the state has raped, sent people to seek refuge in Sudan. Still, he said this words and he could have chosen differently.

Especially, knowing that the Amhara has annexed land. They have used the Special Forces and the Amhara militia “Fano” to participate in the war and invest in the conflict. So, saying that they don’t see the Amhara as an enemy. Really says a lot. Also, knowingly that the state calls them terrorist and criminals. That the state are using all its machinery to end them. Even with all that knowledge and all the costs of the conflict. Still, saying loud and clear that they are not enemies. That is something the Prosperity Party or the Prime Minister never could utter. He and his allies would bring the fire and the fury. They would come with insults and rebuke the ideas of reinstating the TPLF.

These words from the TPLF leader show the difference between him and the Prime Minister. It shows the manners and the attitude, which is important. The TPLF leader could have chosen different words. However, he said these things and they can be verified.

Now the TPLF leader have to prove some of them. The others have been shown and the world is yet to see it. The Tigray region is suffering and paying a huge price. Still, the TPLF and the TDF is fighting to regain it all. Time will tell, but until that’s done. We can what choices the Mekelle leadership will do. Peace.

Ethiopia: World Food Programme (WFP) – WFP response to ESAT news broadcast at 20:00hrs on 12 July 2021 (15.07.2021)